Donovan Dent leads UCLA to blowout win over rival USC

Senior guard scores 30 points, adds 7 assists in 81-62 victory

Feb. 25, 2026 at 10:52am

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Senior guard Donovan Dent had a standout performance, scoring a game-high 30 points on 10-16 shooting to lead UCLA to an 81-62 victory over crosstown rival USC. Dent also dished out 7 assists without committing a single turnover, continuing his impressive streak of zero turnovers over the past two games.

Why it matters

Dent's breakout game comes at a crucial time for the Bruins, who are looking to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament after their season had been in question at times. The dominant win over their rivals could be a statement game that boosts UCLA's tournament resume.

The details

Dent was unstoppable, knocking down 5-of-6 three-pointers and making several highlight-reel layups as he carved up the USC defense. His teammates were content to let Dent take over, with sophomore guard Trent Perry saying he just had to "lock down on the defense" and let Dent "go to work." USC's Chad Baker-Mazara did his best to keep pace, scoring a team-high 25 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome Dent's dominant performance.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
  • Dent had also hit a game-winning shot in overtime to beat No. 10 Illinois on Saturday.

The players

Donovan Dent

A senior guard for the UCLA Bruins who has emerged as a key player for the team after a slow start to his career.

Chad Baker-Mazara

A senior guard for the USC Trojans who led his team with 25 points in the loss.

Trent Perry

A sophomore guard for the UCLA Bruins who praised Dent's performance and said he just had to focus on defense to let Dent take over the game.

Mick Cronin

The head coach of the UCLA Bruins, who emphasized the importance of Dent and the team's other top players performing well as they approach the NCAA Tournament.

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What they’re saying

“I'm having a blast. The reason I was shooting so many threes was they were just giving them to me. They were going like three-remove, which is kind of crazy, so I was just taking my time, sitting back and shooting the shot.”

— Donovan Dent (The Sporting Tribune)

“He's just doing his job. He's doing his thing and I'm very proud for him. I always trust that he's going to find me when I'm open. But, today it was his night and I just had to lock down on the defensive end and let him go to work.”

— Trent Perry, sophomore guard (The Sporting Tribune)

“Nobody's going anywhere in March without their best players... especially in hoops. Your best players, obviously Donnie being one of ours, have got to play well.”

— Mick Cronin, UCLA head coach (The Sporting Tribune)

What’s next

The Bruins will look to build on this momentum as they approach the NCAA Tournament, where they hope Dent can continue to lead them as a dark horse contender.

The takeaway

Donovan Dent's breakout performance in the rivalry game against USC showcases his potential to be a difference-maker for UCLA as they make a push for the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins will need their star player to keep playing at this high level if they hope to make a deep run in March Madness.